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Twenty-seven (27) finalists from the six geo-political zone and Abuja took part in the tension soaked grand finale at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel Abuja. At the end of the keenly contested competition, Chisom Okpala from Dority International Secondary School, Aba, Abia State emerged the overall winner, with 83 percent. Favour Bateren from the University Preparatory Secondary School, Benin City, Edo State who scored 73 percent came second, while Christopher Shiyam from the University of Calabar International Secondary School, Calabar, Cross River State came third with 71.5 percent.
For emerging top, Chisom got a laptop and N200,000, while her scholl also received two desktop computers, two printers and books worth N650,000. The second place winner, Favour, received a cash prize of N150,000 and also won for his school, a set of desktop computer, printer and books worth N400,000. The third place winner got N100,000, while his school also got a set of desktop computer and printer, and books worth N200,000. Each of the 27 finalists, including their teachers(who accompanied the students to the event), also got N15,000, a Certificate of Participation and other gift items as compensation prizes.
Managing Director of NB Plc, Mr Michiel Herkemj, represented by the company's Human Resources Director, Mr Victor Famuyibo, described the company's choice of organising a reading competition for secondary school students as its investment in improving the quality of education in the country, as well as a strategic component of the company's national development initiatives. "We believe that this competition, designe for our secondary school students, will greatly support the laying of a solid foundation for the education of our youths", he said.
The side attraction for this year's event was the presence of multiple award-winning writer, Dr Chimamanda Adichie. Adichie remarked that "when you read, without knowing it, you are learning. The wonderful thing about reading is it affords you the opportunity to learn while having fun at the same time."
Minister of Education, Dr Sam Egwu, who was represented by the Chief Education Officer, Mrs Obiageli Madueke said; "this reading initiative is timely. It is one programme that will further consolidate and propel the country towards achieving the Education for All initiative and the Millenium Development Goals as well as actualising vision 2020."
Chisom, an SS3 student who aspires to study Economics at Havard University said; "students should read their books, newspapers, educative magazines and other literature novels. There are some television programmes that will not help students in anyway, they should not indulge in that. The excitement and feeling of joy I get from picking a copy of any book to read cannot be compared with what I can get from the internet. She continues; "I was seeing Chimamanda live and I just couldn't believe it. I got to talk to her, she congratulated me, I spoke to her personally. It's wonderful."
Other dignitaries who graced the occasion include the President of Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Dr Jerry Agada; Chairman of theAll Nigerian Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), Chief Adeniyi Falade; NB Plc's CSR/PA Manager, Mr Vivian Ikem, who represented the company's Public Affairs Adviser, Mr Yusuf Ageni; veteran broadcaster, Mrs Adesuwa Onyenokwe who anchored the programme; representatives of the Federal and States Ministries of Education and other stakeholders in the Education sector.
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